World Cup 2026 Group B preview: Prediction, odds, full team overviews
Everyone penciled in Italy to win Group B at the World Cup, except Italy had to actually qualify.The Azzurri instead fumbled their way out of a third straight World Cup, losing a playoff stunner to Bosnia and Herzegovina that blew Group B wide open.The Post previews Group B at the World Cup.Teams listed in predicted order of finish.
* indicates third-place team predicted to advance to the knockout stage.Odds to win group: -125What you need to know: Switzerland is the favorite in this group, and the big question is whether they can go anywhere in the knockout stages.They breezed through qualifying and have real depth in the squad, with center back Manuel Akanji and keeper Gregor Kobel keying a defense that’s consistently hard to break down.
Though Switzerland isn’t a high-scoring team, it can keep possession for long stretches and suffocate the opposition.How they play: Murat Yakin has managed Switzerland since 2022, and built a well-established identity.Switzerland tends to line up in a 4-3-3, though it’s deployed a 3-4-3 as well, and plays well-organized, stout defensive soccer.
It’s a team that doesn’t have any superstars, but consistently performs to a standard higher than the sum of its parts.Star player: Midfielder Granit Xhaka is Switzerland’s captain and best player, an excellent passer and leader in the center of the pitch.Xhaka spent most of his career at Arsenal, but played for Sunderland this season after two seasons with Bayer Leverkusen in Germany.
The 32-year-old will play in his fourth World Cup for Switzerland this year.World Cup history: The Swiss have qualified 13 times, and reached the Round of 16 in four of the past five World Cups.They’ve never won a knockout game, though — their three quarterfinal appearances, in 1934, 1938 and 1954, came before there was a Round of 16.Odds: +650What you need to know: If you know one thing about the Dragons coming into the tournament, it’s probably that they beat Italy to qualify.
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